TWO suspected robbers were killed in a massive fireball when their stolen car crashed into a line of parked vehicles and exploded.

The red Audi S4 Quattro had been taken in a raid on a house just 10 minutes before. It is thought to have been travelling at up to 100 mph when it slewed out of control and ploughed into eight other cars.

Police deny they were involved in a chase at the time but have voluntarily referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The Audi driver and his passenger died in the flames as police and 25 firefighters arrived at the scene in Boothstown, Greater Manchester.

The red car went up in flames and its petrol leaked out, running down the street like a stream underneath all of the other cars. Then one by one they all exploded.

Witness Ali Dokoupilo

Several people had to be evacuated from their terraced homes.

One resident, Ali Dokoupilo, 31, said: “The red car went up in flames and its petrol leaked out, running down the street like a stream underneath all of the other cars. Then one by one they all exploded.

“My partner Phillip ran outside to help but the flames were too high. It was terrifying.”

Yesterday, Greater Manchester Police appealed for the families of the victims to come forward as they tried to identify their remains.

The smash happened at 8.35pm on Thursday – ten minutes after the Audi was reported stolen during a break-in in Bolton.

Flames shoot into the air in the aftermath of the crash

Three masked men who drew up outside a house in a silver Vauxhall Vectra, smashed a front room window and snatched the keys before threatening to shoot the householders, were spotted 10 minutes later by two police patrols.

One tried to follow the Audi on the A580 East Lancashire Road but lost sight of it. It is believed the car overtook another vehicle before mounting the kerb and destroying three walls.

The Vectra was dumped five miles from the crash scene in Worsley. Chief Supt Kevin Mulligan appealed for the driver of that car to come forward.